Vehicle door latch

Abstract

A door latch comprising a forkbolt that has a movement between a latched position and an unlatched position is provided. A detent is included that has movement on a travel path between a first position and a second position, the detent engaging and holding the forkbolt in the latched position when the detent is in the first position. The detent releases the forkbolt for movement to the unlatched position when the detent moves to the second position. A detent spring eccentrically engages the detent relative to the detent travel path and biases the detent toward the first position. A release mechanism is also included for moving the detent against the bias of the detent spring to the second position, thus releasing the forkbolt and producing a non-linear torque on the detent.

1 . A door latch comprising:
 a forkbolt that has a movement between a latched position and an unlatched position;   a detent that has movement on a travel path between a first position and a second position, said detent engaging and holding said forkbolt in said latched position when said detent is in said first position, said detent releasing the forkbolt for movement to said unlatched position when said detent is in said second position;   a detent spring eccentrically engaging said detent relative to said detent travel path and biasing the detent toward the first position; and   a release mechanism for moving the detent against the bias of the detent spring to said second position to release the forkbolt and produce a non-linear torque on said detent.   
     
     
         2 . The door latch of  claim 1 , wherein said detent spring is a torsion spring. 
     
     
         3 . The door latch of  claim 1 , wherein said detent is releasably attached to a pin, said detent spring eccentrically engaging said pin. 
     
     
         4 . The door latch of  claim 3 , wherein said pin is rotatable relative to said detent and moves along said travel path. 
     
     
         5 . The door latch of  claim 3 , wherein said pin is attached to an intermittent lever of said release mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The door latch of  claim 5 , wherein said release mechanism further includes an unlatching lever, said intermittent lever pivotably engaging said unlatching lever. 
     
     
         7 . The door latch of  claim 6 , wherein said intermittent lever includes a first lever pivot for pivotably engaging said unlatching lever in a slot located within said unlatching lever. 
     
     
         8 . The door latch of  claim 1 , including a first stud, said detent adapted to rotate about said first stud. 
     
     
         9 . The door latch of  claim 8 , wherein said unlatching lever is adapted to rotate about said first stud. 
     
     
         10 . The door latch of  claim 1 , including a second stud, said forkbolt adapted to rotate about said second stud. 
     
     
         11 . A door latch comprising:
 a forkbolt that has a movement between a latched position and an unlatched position;   a detent that has movement along a travel path between a first position and a second position, said detent engaging and holding said forkbolt in said latched position when said detent is in said first position, said detent releasing said forkbolt for movement to said unlatched position when said detent is in said second position;   a detent spring biasing said detent toward said first position;   an unlatching lever pivotably engaging said detent for moving said detent against the bias of said detent spring to said second position to release the forkbolt, said detent spring eccentrically engaging said detent relative to said travel path.   
     
     
         12 . The door latch of  claim 11 , wherein said detent is releasably attached to a pin, said detent spring eccentrically engaging said pin. 
     
     
         13 . The door latch of  claim 11 , including an intermittent lever interposed between said unlatching lever and said detent. 
     
     
         14 . The door latch of  claim 13 , wherein said intermittent lever includes a pin extending therefrom, said pin releasably attached to said detent. 
     
     
         15 . The door latch of  claim 11 , wherein said detent spring is a torsion spring having a first leg, a second leg and a helical portion there between. 
     
     
         16 . The door latch of  claim 15 , wherein said detent engages said first leg at a first portion of said first leg adjacent said helical portion in said first position and said detent engages said first leg at a second portion opposite said helical portion in said second position. 
     
     
         17 . The door latch of  claim 16 , wherein said detent is releasably attached to a pin, said first leg engaging said pin.